Hey all, I'll be driving on a 2 hour trip this coming weekend and since the weather calls for 70 degrees, i'm thinking of taking off the two front panels for the drive. My question is, since most of the ride will be on a highway going at least 60mph, will the wind be a problem, for that long of a drive?

Hasn't been in mine. Consider some kind of hat to shade your eyes. One that doesn't blow off easily.

My gas mileage computation for a recent 250 mile trip, towing a Bantam trailer one direction but not the other, front panels off both directions, mostly freeway speed, was just a notch under 21 average.

Same trip top on without trailer usually averages right at 22.5; personally at that rate I'd go topless all year if possible.

I just took the panels off my 2012 over the weekend and it's great around town. I'm happy to be able to share my music Anyhow, yesterday I made a 30-mile round trip freeway drive. The wind was annoying enough that I'll put the panels on when I plan to do much freeway driving in the future. Lowering the rear seat windows about 1/2 way seemed to offer the best relief on the freeway. Speeds at 60 or below are fine. At 65+ speeds I started to wish the panels were on or the whole top was off.

They are actually the stock mirrors relocated. I think I used a rugged ridge relo bracket. The passenger side is only good with the doors off. With the doors on, you can't see the passenger side mirror.

in regards to mileage, maybe I'm a leadfoot, but when I did the initial break in drive (500 miles) I got about 19 mpg. Now with city driving, I'm averaging about 14. I don't really care, but it sounds like there might be something wrong with the jeep? thoughts? (2011 4door stock, manual)

in regards to milelage, maybe I'm a leadfoot, but when I did the initial break in drive (500 miles) I got about 19 mpg. Now with city driving, I'm averaging about 14. I don't really care, but it sounds like there might be something wrong with the jeep? thoughts? (2011 4door stock, manual)

On my 500 mile breakin, I got the best mileage I've ever gotten in my JKUR--17/18/19, cause we treat the new gears like they're gonna break and drive like Grandma--

re: "city driving, I'm averaging about 14. I don't really care, but it sounds like there might be something wrong with the jeep? thoughts? "

yes.....city driving sucks and is a total waste of time
what's wrong is your jeep is suffering from "Hyper Asphalt Toxicity Syndrome"....remedy is to abandon the evil city life, go out to the Temple of the Great Dirt Goddess and rejoice in your blessings...in 4 wheel drive if possible....

re: "city driving, i'm averaging about 14. I don't really care, but it sounds like there might be something wrong with the jeep? Thoughts? "

yes.....city driving sucks and is a total waste of time
what's wrong is your jeep is suffering from "hyper asphalt toxicity syndrome"....remedy is to abandon the evil city life, go out to the temple of the great dirt goddess and rejoice in your blessings...in 4 wheel drive if possible....

Hey all, I'll be driving on a 2 hour trip this coming weekend and since the weather calls for 70 degrees, i'm thinking of taking off the two front panels for the drive. My question is, since most of the ride will be on a highway going at least 60mph, will the wind be a problem, for that long of a drive?

Surely you've seen convertibles on the highway. So the wind isn't a problem for folks at highway speeds unless they just prefer less wind or sun. If you're instead asking if the hard top will somehow "fail" at highway speeds after a few hours, the answer is "no."

So I guess the answer is you may (or may not) personally prefer less wind or sun by the end of the trip, but everything will be fine mechanically. Up to you.

Hey all, I'll be driving on a 2 hour trip this coming weekend and since the weather calls for 70 degrees, i'm thinking of taking off the two front panels for the drive. My question is, since most of the ride will be on a highway going at least 60mph, will the wind be a problem, for that long of a drive?

Thanks

I must have been a dog in a previous life. My wife thinks so, for sure.
I'm not sure why you'd take the panels off in the first place if you don't like wind. Not bashing, just wondering. When I'm motoring down the interstate on my Road King, I glance at cars I'm passing, or that are passing me with their windows up, all cozy and silent, and thank the Lord for the opportunity to enjoy the wind. There's a reason we call them "cagers". Took the wife and I all of about 20 minutes after picking up the Wrangler to have the panels off.